Thornville plans to sell old hardware store lot

THORNVILLE – Thornville administrators and council members plan to place the property once home to the Thornville Hardware Store out to bid.

“We plan to do it by sealed bid,” said Thornville Administrator Beth Patrick. “We won’t know what the bids are until we open them.”

Last September, the village razed the old hardware store, which was in extremely poor condition. There was some debate over whether to try to restore the building for its historical value, but the village received a $60,000 donation to raze the building, provided the village accepted the donation by Sept. 1 of last year.

“This is just now in its very early stages,” said Patrick, who added that the village would have three readings of an ordinance to authorize Patrick to place the property out for bid, and a public hearing, before bids are accepted. Patrick said council voted July 22 to bid the property.

Patrick said she expects Aug. 26 will be the first reading of the ordinance authorizing her to place the property out to bid, there will likely be a public hearing Sept. 9, and she hopes the ordinance’s third reading will be Sept. 23.

Council President Mary Renner said council members have not decided on a minimum bid for the property. Patrick said council members will have the right to turn down all bids if hey believe the bids received are unreasonably low. She said the property is in the “Old Town District” and can be used for residential or commercial development.

Patrick said that to the best of her knowledge, no one has yet contacted the village to express interest in purchasing the property or with any plans for development.

In other Thornville news, Patrick said the water tower project was completed July 26 and the tower is freshly painted with a new logo for the village. The village was not charged extra for the logo. “The company doing the work threw that into the deal,” said Mayor Gavin Renner previously.

Thornville entered into a water tower service and maintenance contract with Utility Service Company, Inc. based in Perry, Georgia. Patrick said according to the contract the first three years of annual fees are $66,681. The annual fee for contract year four and each subsequent year is $19,427.

There was concern residents may experience a “funny taste” to the water shortly after the project was complete, but thus far Patrick said she hasn’t heard any complaints. “Not that I’m aware of,” she said. Patrick said any strange odors or tastes following the repainting are not harmful to consumers in any way and, if they do exist, will simply go away after a short time. The water must always pass Ohio EPA regulations.